This week, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, through which most legislation affecting Medicare and Medicaid passes, held a hearing titled "Advancing the Next Generation of America's Healthcare Workforce."

As part of this effort, APTA submitted an official statement for the record to the subcommittee outlining policy solutions to address immediate and long-term physical therapy workforce needs in rural areas, including passage of H.R. 5621. The submission complements ongoing APTA advocacy aimed at subcommittee members to advance the association's priorities of payment, workforce sustainability, and reducing administrative burden.

The Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act

A key priority for APTA is the passage of H.R. 5621, the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act. This bipartisan legislation would:

• Add physical therapists to the National Health Service Corp, or NHSC, Loan Repayment Program, which offers $50,000 in student loan repayment to licensed providers accepted into the program in exchange for two years of service at an approved clinic or facility located in a rural or medically underserved region; and
• Provide more flexibilities to federal community health centers in how they provide and bill physical therapist services, expanding access to rehabilitative care for patients who often have few or no local options.

"APTA is proud to champion the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act, a critical step toward addressing the growing shortage of health care providers — especially in medically underserved communities," says APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD.

"By including physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps, this bipartisan legislation affirms the essential role of physical therapist services in preventing disability, managing chronic conditions, and restoring quality of life for millions of Americans. It expands access to care where it is needed most, helping ensure that patients in rural and medically underserved areas can receive the rehabilitative care they need to support independence, health, and well-being."

In its comments to the committee, APTA stressed the need for Congress to also address Medicare payment reform, including the repeal of the MPPR policy, to provide greater stability and improved payment for therapy providers and prevent closures of clinics in rural areas. APTA also highlighted its opposition to the current proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Education, which, if enacted, would limit access to federal student loans and threaten the therapy workforce pipeline.  

40+ Groups Join in Letter to Congress in Support of H.R. 5621

To build momentum for H.R. 5621, APTA led a sign-on letter to Congress in support of the bill, which was endorsed by more than 40 organizations, including national associations, health clinics, and hospitals. The coalition's sign-on letter, representing groups such as the National Association of Community Health Centers, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, the National Rural Health Association, and the American Farm Bureau Federation, was submitted as part of APTA's official comments to the subcommittee.

What APTA Members Can Do Right Now

You can help advance H.R. 5621 and support the PT workforce in rural and medically underserved communities. Visit APTA's Patient Action Center to send a message directly to your members of Congress, urging them to support this critical bill.  

You can also submit comments for the record on the Department of Education's proposed rule on federal student loans before the March 2 deadline.